Instrument for treating infection of the pharynx and eustachian tubes and lateral fissures of the pharynx



Oct. 24, 1933. A A. EDGlNGTON 1,931,720 INSTRUMENT FOR TREATING INFECTION 0E THE PHARYNX AND EUSTACHIAN TUBES AND LATERAL FIssUEEs oF THE PHARYNX Filed June 17, 1931 UNiTsD' STATES inFigure;

Patented Oct. 24, 1933 PATENT OFFICE INSTRUMENT FOR TREATING vINFECTION OF THE PHARYNX AND EUSTACHIAN TUBES AND -LATERAL FISSUBV'ES THEy Avington Adam Edgington, Omaha, Nebr.

' Application Junel7, 1931*. Serial No. 545,066

4 Claims.` (Cl. 128`-350) j The present invention relates'to improvements in instruments particularly ,adapted for `treating infection and diseased tissues of the pharynx,

eustachian tubes and lateral fissures of the. l 5' pharynx and comprises va `simple inexpensive article by means of which infected material and infected lymphoid, necrotic,or catarrhal tissues maybe removed from the pharynx or eustachian tubes or lateral fissures of the pharynx, and, if l desired remedial agents subsequently applied to the surfaces from which said tissues have been separated. f'

kIn the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation of an instrument constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

, Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 Figure 4 isan elevation of an attachment particularly shaped for treating the pharynx, .the same being detached from the body of the instrument; f

Figure 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the treatment tube shown Figure 6 is a detail View of a slightly different form of tube for the same purposes as those of Figure 4;

A Figure 7 is a detail view of another form of tube adapted to be connected with the instrument and particularly intended forcleansing the eustachian tubes;r and Figure 8 is a view of an instrument designed for use as a swab or means for sustaining a body of absorbent material for use in detaching lymphoid, necrotic, or catarrhal tissue or infected matter from the walls of the pharynx.

Referring to the drawing, in the several views of which like parts are designated by `similar reference characters, the body of the instrument comprises an elongated tubular body 1,

which, as shown, is preferably of cylindrical form in cross section and may be made of metal or any suitable composition, and which, as shown, is provided at its ends with removable plugs or end pieces 2, 3.

An aperture 4 is provided inthe side wall of the body 1 and within said body and extending across said aperture is a tube 5 of glass orother 55; tween said plugs and the tube 5 are positioned washers or packing rings 6, 7 which provide a fluid-tight connection between the plugs and body.v l

As shown, the end plug or closure 3 is provided with an integral extension '8 which is adapted to beconnected with a suitable device or meansv for establishing or creating suction through the body yof the instrument. Any suitable means may be employed for thus creating the desired suction, the drawlng'merely illustrating a section 9 of. a ilexible tube or hose serving to connect the instrument with a simple syphon suction pump` such as maybe actuated by an ordinary water faucet. Y.

The plug 2 at the opposite, end of the body 1 is provided with an elongated tube'lO shaped to permit of its being inserted in the lateral fissure of the pharynx or. the eustachiantube to be drained by the instrument. SuchplugZis preferably provided with an exterior thready engaging a thread on the body tube member 1 so that such plug and the tube lilconnected therewith may be readily detached from the body and replaced by another of slightly different curvature,. according to the particular surface to be treated.

The tube 10, as shown in Figures and' is closed at its outer end and adjacent such closed end has a plurality of perforations 11 formed in its wall. A vent tube 12 is arranged within the tubev 10 and extends lengthwise thereof, having its end remote from the body 1 opening into the tube 10 and its opposite end 13 extending through the Wall of the tube 10, as shown. This tube 12 constitutes a vent tube and when suction is created through the body of the instrument by the means connected to the suction member 9, any` infection or diseased tissue removed from the surface exposed to such suction will be drawn through the body of the tube 10. The matter thus withdrawn from the cavity treated can be observed through the transparent closure of the aperture 4.

As previously explained, the treatment tubes 10 will be of various forms, according to the contour of the particular cavity which is to be treated and the outer ends thereof need not be closed for all purposes.

For example, in using the instrument for treating the eustachian tubes, itis generally preferred to employ a tube 10aI of the character shown in Figure '7 having theend thereof remote from the body 1 permanently open. It is to be understood that the detachable tubes 10, 10a will be bent or curved according as to whether it is desired yto treat the right or left eustachian tube or fissures los at the right or left side of the pharynx. Preferably, at least two tubes, such as shown in Figure 7, differing merely in that the sections 15 thereof are bent reversely according as it is desired to use them for the right or left hand eustachian tube are provided.

Figure 8 illustrates a means for preliminarily treating the wall or surface which is to be subsequently subjected to the action of suction through the instrument before described and comprises a handle portion 16, an elongated stem or body 17 which is bent to the proper curvature for the surface to be treated and which terminates in a section 18 of polygonal form in cross section so that it will act to retain a body of absorbent cotton or similar material which may be applied thereto and by means of which lymphoid tissue and infection material on the wall of the pharynx, for example, may be readily detached.

It is believed that the operation and advantages o1" the improved instrument will be readily understood and illustrated from the foregoing descrption. It will be seen that the instrument provides a very simple but effective means for utilizing the suction created by a suitabl-e means connected with the suction tube 9 for removing infected and diseased tissues and subsequently, by use of the device shown in Figure 8, for example, remedial agents may be readily applied to the surfaces which have been thus cleansed.

Moreover, in addition to the application of remedial agents by the use of the instrument, it will be seen that by reversing the process of the suction through the hollow tubes, remedial agents maybe applied to the eustachian tubes, the lateral fissures and the walls of the pharynx;

I claim:-

1. An instrument for the purpose described comprising a hollow body having at one end,

said tube and communicating with the interior of the latter adjacent said apertures and having its end adjacent the body of the instrument eX- terior of said tube.

2. An instrument for the purpose described comprising a hollow body having at one end means for attachment to a device orcreating suction through the body, and a tubular closure for the other end of said body having a detachable elongated extension adapted to be inserted in a lateral fissure of the pharynx or one of the eustachian tubes, and a vent communicating with the interior of said tube extension adjacent its end remote Vfrom the body and having its end adjacent the body exterior of said tubular extension.

3. An instrument for treating infection and diseased tissues of the throat and mouth comprising a hollow body having restricted end openings, means at one -end of the body for attachment to a device for creating suction therethrough, said body having an aperture in its wall, an inner tubular body having'a transparent Wall section opposite' said aperture, and a closure for the outer endof the outer body having a tubular extension provided with an angularly disposed end portion provided with a lateral opening adapted to be inserted in a lateral ssure of the pharynx or one of the -eustachian tubes.

4. An instrument for treating infection and 1-"05 diseased tissues of the throat and mouth compr'sing a hollow body having restricted end openings, means at one end of the body for attachment to a device for creating suction therethrough, said body having an aperture in its wall, an inner tubular body havinga transparent wall section opposite said aperture, a closure for the other end of the outer body having a; tubular ext'ens'on provided with an angularly `disposed end portion provided with a lateral opening adapted to be inserted in a lateral iissure ofthe pharynx or one of the eustachian tubes, and means whereby upon reversing of the .suction force for applying remedial agents to the throat and nose. i f fi() AVINGTON ADAM EDGINGTON.

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